Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-09-24
A DELINQUENT ELEPHANT.
How He Was Punished by His Fellows for
DisObedience.


Many were the sights l witnessed in and
out of the Palace of Mandalay; but nothing
struck my attention so much as the number
of trained elephants, lately belonging to the
deposed monarch, and the splendid quarters
in which they were located, and my surprise
was still more increased when l was intro
duced to and entered into conversation with
the gentleman who presided over this extern
sive establishment. He turned out to be a
real native ofthe Isle of Wight. The white
or mouse-colored elephant was there, of
course; but chow are the mighty fallen p
He was no longer in magnificent pavilion,
alone in his grandeur, surrounded by many
servitors of the king; on the contrary, he
was in a stall like the rest of the beasts, and,
if anything, less noticed than many of his
finer brethren. One more anecdote about
this wonderful beast, and have done with
elephants. Shortly before our arrival one
of these animals had greatly disgraced
himself by refusing to carry a Ger,
tain weight of goods which had
been piled on his back. There is the regula-
ton weight, and the beasts know to an ounce
what they ought to carry, and if any of the
mahouts attempted to put surplus amount
on his or their backs it is Immediately shot
on to the ground The animal in question
had been duly laden with a weight which
was ullueT JHe Dub dltnOuRn
it had been twice weighed, as Mrs. Camp
would say, before his own eyes, he still re
fused to carry it. This was too much for
even his indulgent driver. so he was accord
ingly reported, and just as we arrived he was
about to be tried for his extraordinary and
obstinate conduct. Several elephants were
led out into large courtyard, forming kind
of circle round the delinquent, who seemed
already to feel his position acutely, for he
glanced anxiously from time to time at his
mahout, who was visibly affected, and who
stood by his head. A karen presided over
ment against the offender, the elephants
which constituted the jury apparently listen
ing with great attention.
After the statement was finished and the
mahout examined, who, by the way, gave
his evidence with great reluctance, the karen
decided that the case had been distinctly
proved, and the culprit was adjudged the
punishment of twenty strokes. Upon the
announcement of the verdict, the jury
marched in most solemn manner to dis
tant part of the yard, and returned with
switch about as large as fair-sized scatfold
pole. In the meantime the mahout had been
addressing the offender, who was now weep
ing copiously, large drops of tears falling
from his eyes, and occasionally shrill and
peculiar sound issued from his capacious
throat. The executioners of the law were at
hand, and stood about twelve to fourteen feet
apart, eacn palanclnS Will pecullar nicely III
his trunk the aforesaid switch. The lprit
was led up to the place, and as he passed
number one there was a sound heard which
resembled somewhat sharp clap of thunder;
it was the first blow delivered by the dread
myrmidons of the law. The blow was fol-
lowed by sharp, shrill scream, although
there was evidently an attempt on the part
of the culprit to suppress any exhibition of
pain. This punishment continued until the
whole of the sentence had been carried out
Although felt considerable sympathy with
the unfortunate delinquent, I was at the
same time intensely amused with the
thorough business-like air with which these
ministers of justice carried out the sentence
There were no light blows delivered but, as
matter of fact, each elephant seemed deter
mined to administer heavier amount of
punishment than his neighbor, and the sly
twinkle in the eye as the blow was delivered
was sight to see.-Jaunt Through Batrmah.